Malaysia (Penang) to Sumatra
 

Hi there Osama .....

Didn't look to see if you've been on the thread earlier, but if not then welcome matey. I see that you're up around Thailand/ top bit of Malaysia, but you've got KL listed on your profile. Is this your home town? The reasona I asked, is that I'm hoping to go through this part of the world next year ... but will try and miss most of the rainy stuff if I can.

There seems to be feedback that the Indonesian authorities are getting tougher on bikers going into Sumatra on banana boats and the suchlike. I also recently read someone's blog, who intended going from Malaysia to Oz through Indonesia (then onto the USA). It seems they gave up waiting for the Penang ferry across to Sumatra after a couple of weeks (with the shipping agent telling them tomorrow? day after? etc. Are they that unreliable then?

Be interested in any info' you've got on this. ...... Len

no idea
 

Sorry Len,:confused1:

I really dont know about that, but will get back to you!
But as far as I know, theres heaps of International ferry services here in Malaysia to Indonesia & also to the Philipines

Penang-Medan (approx5hours)
Mallaca-Dumai (approx2hours)
Johor Bahru-Tanjung Pinang &
Johor Bahru-Batam.

If youre in the Tropics make sure youve got a good waterproof riding suit & panniers etc. It sometimes get really wet even during the non rainy seasons!
:Beach:
p.s Good guess, I was born in Penang brad in Kuala Lumpur

ferries to Indonesia ...
 

Yeah thanks for that Osama ....

You've put my mind to rest. That bears out all the research I've done, in that there does seem to be plenty of ferries to Indonisia out of Malaysia. The couple I mentioned that were waiting on the ferry must've been unlucky or mabye just impatient.

I've got what I think are good waterproofs (albeit second-hand), but will be testing them through the English winter just to make sure they do the job. I've already been giving thought to upgrading my panniers, so you've given me fresh incentive to do so before setting off.

Catch ya later ........ and thanks again. Len

meeting
 

hi guys
hey im from london any you guys want to meet for discussion
about trip be cool to hang out
lee

London meeting
 

Hi guys,

Can't believe this thread is still getting busier every the day :) What about another London meet-up some time this month or October? Maybe Ace Cafe on a Saturday or Sunday?

By the way:
I hope to do an intermediate motorcycle maintenance course. So far we're 8 people but the college (Hackney college, East London Zone 1) wants at least 10 participants by next week. Sad thing is: If this autumn course doesn't happen, Hackney College wants to remove it completely – so I thought I'd 'advertise' it here before it's too late: 10 weeks, Thursday evenings from 18:30 to 20:00, about £100 altogether. If that sounds good to you, sign up it's worth it (I've done the beginners one last term). For more info, speak to Tony in the motor vehicle department (he's the tutor).

No problem!
 

Thats whats bikers are for matey!:thumbup1:
I'll let you know once I found out more info's...


:scooter: gottago

btw: last nite my mechanic called: My Dommie is FIXED!:clap:

September/October meet
 

Hi guys .....

There seems to be interest in another meet to avachat about the UK SE Asia/Oz trip. If anyone gets to make arrangements I'll do my best to pootle along. London's good, but if anyone fancies a nose around Bristol (my current home town) I'd be glad to pay host.

Len

This sounds a really cool trip.

Theres a possibility i may be interested in something similer myself. Basicly i want to travelling for a year or two in the near future, but due to job circumstances (Strong possibility of a great job) i may not go.

Ive been floating around this site anyway and im just thinking of ideas just in case. All i know at present is i want an epic trip, hopefully lasting a year then maybe settling somewhere for a year. Ill be selling my flat here to fund the trip.

At present though i cant make any decisions until i get an answer on this job. Its been 5 weeks now and i havent got a definite yes or no yet.

Ill be keeping an eye on this thread anyway:cool4:

Hi everyone !!
 

It seems I am not alone in wanting to travel south. The sticking point being Myanamar or China see this thread on the HUBB re China http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...-china-18929-2

I would love to meet and chat sometime in October/November I am in the Midlands but can manage to find my way to North London. If anyone has a venue in mind ( Ace Cafe?) post it on here, hope to put a few faces to the names..see you soon Jimmy

London meetup & spreadsheet
 

Hi everyone,

Len's just sent me a PM and we're thinking about another meeting in London. What about 6th of October at the Ace Cafe (North Circular & well-connected to "non-M25" motorways)? Anyone else up for that – please PM me and I'll put you on a mailing list.

I've also had a thought about getting a bit organised – it's great this thread is so popular, but I personally find it difficult to keep track of who is planning to be where at what time and what their destination is. So
I've put up a public google spreadsheet, which allows everyone to fill in a rough itinerary & comments. I hope this'd make it easier to find travel partners for certain legs, or to just swap some more detailed information about certain areas
I also left a 'comments' box at the end of the spreadsheet – i.e. I want to stick around in Thailand for a bit of diving whilst I'm there,...

If you'd like to have a look at the spreadsheet, please PM me your email-address so I can invite you to it. (You don't need a google account to view it).

Cheers
Bjorn

Hi Jimmy, I too am thinking of going there
 

Hi Jimmy, I live between UK and Nongkhai Thailand and have been thinking of doing same thing but route I would like to go is southern Europe, Turkey and down to Saudi then get ferry to India and then Bangladesh and Myanmar (Burma) and then into Thailand in the north east and yes I have been told that you cannot travel in Myanmar but I have met many who have do so and if you wish to go to lao you can cross on the bridge in Nongkhai.
Regards
Ken
PS , if any one has ideas going this route then please contact me , oh and I have had experience as used to be HGV driver doing middle east and then mainly Turkey and Greece :scooter:

Myanmar/Laos/Thailand
 

Hi Ken001

You've got me intrigued. All my research shows Burma (Myanmar) as pretty well closed, unless on a government (controlled) tour. In other words, not likely to get a visa as an independant traveller. There are roads through China, but interprovince travel isn't always possible (officially), so can't see a readily passable route through to (nice n' easy) Thailand from the top right hand corner of India.

Any further info' you've got on this would be really welcome. I see your up in Merseyside .... Don't suppose you're able to make the October 6th meet North London at the Ace cafe?

Len

it can be done
 

Hi Len
Yes I know that many people say it can't be done but I have been in north Thailand for over 21 years and have met on many occasions riders who have passed through Burma, I have even been inside but only up to 6 Ks as this is all you are allowed to go before needing a visa, many ex-pats do this for shopping but as for bikers I am told if you keep to the main highway then you can pass through from Indian border to Thailand border but if things work out with the present uprising then who knows it may be fully open by next spring. I would love to come to the meeting in London but its getting the time so any chance of closer to Merseyside, what type of bike would you go on I am thinking of a V Strom 1000, also you can go via Athens to Alex and then down to Saudi that way its a very easy route but ferry a little pricy.
please come back with your ideas on this Len.
Regards
Ken:scooter:

uk to singapore
 

hi mate me and my mate are planning trip to singapore from london next june 2008 we are prob gonna get bmw 650 dakars, i am trying to get more info on china as we awnt to go kazakstan china laos thailand,so far all i can find out that it costs about $10000 and have to go thru china travel agent.let me knw anything you find out and ill do same. i am in the states and will prob be comming over to london at xmas to buy bie and make plans. mabey we could meet up. cheers tom

Welcome Atlanta
 

Hi Tom ....

Welcome to the thread mate. I for one am hoping to vacate these wet n' windy shores for the Xmas break. But will be around again early in the new year. So if you're still here, maybe wecould arrange another meeting then.

As you I'm keen to find out more about travel in China. If I find anything important out will post it on here.

Keep in touch Len